Clothes-lifter.



No. 65l,l2l. Patented June 5, I900.

J. POTTEBTON.

(Application filed Dec; 26, 1896.)

(No Model.)

WITNEESEE I |NVENTUR 7 UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

MADDEN, OF

SAME PLACE.

CLOTHES-LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,121, dated June 5, 1900.

Application filed December 26,1896. Serial No- 617,l32. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:-

Be it known that I, JOHN POTTERTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Lifters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains, to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an improved clothes-lifter used in lifting clothes from boilers, &c.; and it has for its objects to produce a simple and efficient device of this character which can be utilized to stir and lift clothes from a boiler or other receptacle and to so construct the same that it will be enabled to grip a single small article of apparel, such as a handkerchief, even though such article should be spread out upon and in close contact with the bottom of the boiler, and also to produce a device of this character which can be used as a stirringstick and which can be conveniently grasped with one hand when so used, and, further, to improve the form and arrangement of the gripping-jaws, so that they will effectually grip and hold the garments which it is desired to remove from the boiler or other receptacle in which they may be under treatment in boiling liquid.

Tothe above end the present invention consists of the clothes-lifter construction and arrangement, as will be hereinafter described and claimed. I

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the device with the jaws open. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal central section, the ends of the han-v dles being broken away; and Fig. 3 shows a plan view, portions being broken away.

In the drawings, A represents the improved clothes-lifter, comprising the integral levers a and a, which are hinged at 66 111 such mannor that the longer ends of the levers form handles 0/ and the shorterends form the gripping and stirring jaws a The levers a and a are made of wood and are preferably formed as shown in the drawings, the lever a being substantially straight from end to end and the lever a being bent, as shown at thus bringing its gripping-jaw a in a different plane from its handle a Byso constructing the levers I produce a strong device and enable the gripping-jaws to come into close contact with each other along their entire length, and also enable the handles a to be brought close together, whereby a close grip may be obtained upon the garments which it is desired to remove from the boiler, and at the same time, when the device is used as a stirring-stick, the jaws and handles being in close contact, the device may be readily grasped in one hand and forms practically a single integral bar or stick.

The pivotal connection of the levers a and a is formed as follows: The lever a has a widened portion, as shown at b, and in this widened portion b is formed a slot b, which has at each end an inclined shoulder 19 and 12 The lever a is passed through the slot 1) and secured therein by a pivot-pin a as before stated, the lever Ct being of a thickness in cross-section to readily pass through and fit the slot 1) in the lever a", and when the levers ct and a are secured together, as shown, the walls of the slot 1) will prevent any sidewise movement or play of the levers and will position the jaws and handles in alinement with each other. The inclined shoulders 19 and b in the slot 19' permit a free movement of the lever a in the slot 12 to bring the jaws and handles in close contact, as before stated. and in order that the handles may when closed be readily grasped in one hand they are preferably flattened, as shown at (E so that when brought close together they are substantially circular in cross-section.

The jaws a are gradually tapered from the point e to the end thereof, and the corners and ends are rounded, as shown, in order that when brought together and used as a stirrer there may be no sharp corners to injuriously act on the garments.

The gripping-faces of the jaws are formed, as shown, with the complemental projections and grooves c and 0 so arranged that when the jaws are brought together the projections and grooves will nest into each other, whereby a close and sure grip upon the garment will result and whereby the garment will be gripped along the whole surface'of the jaws and not at two or three points along their faces.

In forming the gripping-faces on the jaws they are so positioned relatively to each other that a hook-shaped end a is formed upon the end of the jaw a on lever a, and the end of the jaw a on lever a is rounded to correspond therewith, said hook a being adapted to be moved over the bottom of the boiler or other receptacle in close contact therewith and engage a small article, such as a handkerchief, and lift it up, so that it may be gripped and removed when desired.

The jaws a and handles are so constructed relatively to each other that when the jaws are closed the handles at their ends will be normally slightly apart, as shown at the result being that when a fine or thin garment is gripped the elasticity of the handles when forced together will cause the jaws to exert an elastic grip upon the garment, and thereby insure the effective gripping of the same.

If desired, I may cut away the jaw a of lever a back of its gripping-face, as shown at b, forming a recess b when the jaws are closed,to accommodate a bunching of the garments, which may occur when gripping the same.

It will be noted that when the jaws are closed the ends thereof come together, forming a smooth, tapered, and rounded end,which can be used to punch and stir the garments in the boiler without danger of tearing or otherwise injuring the same.

The use of the device has been fully explained in the foregoing description of its construction, and further explanation is deemed unnecessary.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. As an article of manufacture, a clotheslifter comprising the integral pivoted levers having gripping-jaws provided with complemental projections and grooves and rounded outer edges and corners, one jaw having a hook-shaped project-ion on its end, the other jaw having a correspondingly-rounded end to engage therewith, substantially as described.

2. As an article of manufacture, a clotheslifter comprising the integral levers, having gripping-jaws provided with complemental projections and grooves, the surfaces of the projections engaging the surfaces of the grooves, one of said jaws being provided on its end with a hook and the opposing-face of the other jaw being rounded to correspond to the said hook, the outer sides and edges of the ends of both jaws being rounded, the gripping-jaws being provided with a recess back of the gripping faces thereof, and the levers being so constructed that when the grippingjaws are closed the handles thereof will normally be slightly apart, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatur in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN POTTERTON.

Witnesses:

EDWARD WARREN, A. E. WHYTE. 

